The plaid is any piece of heavy woven cloth. Unlike today, they used to weave the cloth to either the maximum length they go get to or to the size they wanted.

Heavy material was rarely cut as it lasted longer that way. ( If you've ever had a go at weaving you'd understand how long it takes to make cloth.....)

Plaids were used for all sorts of articles of clothing, cloaks, shawls, bedding. The 'ben kilt' or great kilt was a kind of utility piece of clothing. It was worn however the wearer found it comfortable.

The most common way recorded was to lay the material on the ground and put in several pleats lengthways to gather the slack. Then the wearer lay along the pleats and folded the fabric across. A belt could then be slid underneath and then tied at the front. The remaining fabric hanging from the back was then worn like a cloak or brought over one shoulder and tucked in the belt to hold it in place.

The ben kilt was also used to roll up in to go to sleep. And probably anything else they could think of.

The tarten is definitely the pattern and not the fabric. Tartens came in all sorts of colours and were not affiliated to certain clans ( except by the fact that so and so had made 40 yards of the same pattern and every one from the chief to the latest bairn was wearing it ) until after the clearences, when it became almost a point of honour. The Victorians waded in with muted versions ( have you seen the Crawfor and Ogilvey tartens, talk about retina burning ) for the delicate sensibilities of the times and these were named 'Hunting' for the taylors who instigated them.

Frankly, wear what you like! It's nice if you pick an identafiable tarten to know something about it, but other than that go for it.

More men should wear skirts!

TTFN Lady P.